Olympus PEN-F vs Sony A6500

Lets look much closer at the Olympus PEN-F and Sony A6500, both Advanced Mirrorless digital cameras by rivals Olympus and Sony. The image resolution of the PEN-F (20MP) and the A6500 (24MP) is pretty similar but the PEN-F (Four Thirds) and A6500 (APS-C) boast different sensor size.

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The PEN-F was unveiled 8 months before the A6500 and they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the PEN-F scores vs the A6500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN-F and Sony Alpha a6500. The full galleries are provided at Olympus PEN-F Gallery and Sony A6500 Gallery.

For those who are planning to carry your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus PEN-F has exterior dimensions of 125mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.5") having a weight of 427 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Sony A6500 has specifications of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") with a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus PEN-F and Sony A6500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the PEN-F against the A6500.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the PEN-F and A6500 is 84 and 81 respectively.

Typically, its hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizing just by reviewing technical specs. The photograph underneath should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the PEN-F and A6500.

As you can tell, both the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The PEN-F using its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony A6500 will deliver greater detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The older PEN-F is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.